Folding chair



June 14, 1927.-

J- S. PECKER FOLDING CHAIR Filed Oct. 11. 1923 W ATTORNEY.

Patented June 14, 1927. a

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH PECKER, OE PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVLANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO MORRIS KATZANDER, ONE-THIRD TO EUGENE BLOSS, AND ONE-THIRD T0 CHARLES JELLINEK, ALL OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. V

FOLDING cream Application filed October 11, 1923. Serial No. 667,983.

The invention relates to a, folding chair. The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, practical and efiicient folding chair of strong, durable and compara tively inexpensive construction adapted, when folded, to be used as an arm chairin. a parlor or otherv suite of furniture and equipped with an adjustable back capable of being arranged in different inclined positions, and adapted also to be dropped to a horizontal position to cooperate with the main section of the chair, and a hinged arm section to form a couch or bed,

A further obj ectof the invention is to provide a structure'adapted tov facilitate assemblingof the parts of the folding chair and capable of eliminating all danger of the parts becoming loose and getting out ofv mesh or cooperative relation n the use of the. chair, due to the wooden frame of the chair giving away under heavy strains,

Another object of the, invention is to provide a folding chair hav ng ratchet mechanism-for securingthe hinged back of the chair in its adjustable position capable of ready operation from either side of the chair by the foot of aperso n Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge structure for the adjustable back adapted to afford firm and secure abutment for the back when the same is lowered into a horizontal position to con vert the folding chair into a couchor bed.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully" described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed'out inthe claim hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, pro

, portion and minor-detailsof construction,

within the scope of the claim, may be re sorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificingany of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing, in which like characters of efe enc deslgnat orr ponding p s. in; heseverel views:

igu 1 s a pla vie of a folding h ir. con ru t d n eee rdehc th h inv n i n, the hing d arm sec ion b ing. shown its extend d or unfold d pe iti'o'nh n f ll lines and in its folded position in dotted lnes.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, partly broken away to illustrate the ratchet mechanism more clearly. m

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of one ofthe angle side pieces,

Figure {l is adetail perspective view of one of the brackets.

Figure 5 is a detailed View illustrating the 'ont ru tion and m nne of mo n i g he ra he m m ers Figure 6, is a on ele a o Q 'th hing arm s ction, t e gs ei g i op r t e re tion in full lines and folded in dotted lines. Figures 7 and 8 are detail perspective views of thefoldable legs of the arm sec-' tion, 7 In he a omp nying dr ng, Which s. llustrat he P efe r em d m nt of th nven io the'feldihg ha mpr n, l shon truct h am SQQQIOH a hinged a ju ble ck. nd a hinged 'm se -Q I $I I1l Q of o or he shit-ahl m a h main o sea tio 1, h c is esig n prac ce to e uph ls ed in the usu l. mann and e rm a e t, s u

a t lly c a gu a i f m a pr vided with suitable legs 4: and, 5 and it is ell ippedv t the ba k t e h S d With a cal ra ket 6. c s r ct d @21 n other suitable material, and consists of two Wings r flang s 7 a d 8 Th Wing flange 7, which is disposed in a plane transer e y; Qfthe airyi u ly s c d to the main or seat section at the rear thereof,

adapt d tie wi g w h esneet th e o to arrange he hackle va ious in lined." P95 ion and to. drop ebeek int ahqt zeh Pe' t nf h t i des red t9 co vert the fo ding their nto. a b d or coach The h thef' hehh w er -F a eeee w e metal bar 13 suitable secured to the back 2 and extended below the lower edge thereof to form a ratchet engaging arm 14:, provided at its lower or outer end with a tooth 15 adapted to engage with any one of a series of ratchet teeth 16 of a pivoted ratchet member 17.

The ratchet member 17 consists of a curved arm pivoted at 18 by a pin or other suitable pivot to the flange 8 of the bracket 6 and extending forwardly and upwardly from the lower end of the said flange 8 and provided at its inner or rear edge with the said teeth 16. the path of the tooth 15 of the ratchet engaging arm 11 and are shouldered at the rear edges and are beveled or inclined at the front edges to permit the arm 1 1 to ratchet over the teeth 16 when the hinged back 2 is raised to enable the back to be swung upwardly without manually disengaging the ratchet member 17 from the ratchet engaging arm 14. The ratchet members 17, at the opposite sides of the main or seat section of the chair, are connected by an angle tie bar 19 and each ratchet member 17 is provided with a foot treadle 20, preferably cast integral with the ratchet casting and extending forwardly at the back of the chair in advance of the rear legs to enable the foot of the operator to be readily inserted beneath the chair for depressing the foot treadle plates for swinging the ratchet members 17 out of engagement with the arms 14 of the back to permit the back to be swung downwardly. The foot treadle plates consist of a horizontal portion and an angularly connecting portion to which is bolted the angle connecting or tie bar, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing. While the ratchet members and tie bar are shown separate, they may be constructed in any other suitable manner and when secured together they will operate as a one piece structure for producing a 'simul taneous operation of the ratchet members. These treadle plates may, if desired, constitute a part of either the angle tie bar or the ratchet members. The treadle plates, ratchet members and tie bar form a lever construc tion which enables the ratchet members to be easily operated and the ratchet members are maintained in engagement with the ratchet engaging arms 14 by means of a coiled spring 21 extending from the rear of l the main or seat section to a transverse connecting rod 22 of the ratchet members, but it maybe connected with the ratchet members in any other desired manner. When theconnect-ing rod 22 is employed it serves as an additional reinforcement or brace for the ratchet members. WVhen the back of the chair is swung downwardly into a hori- .yontal position the ratchet connecting arms are carried beneath and in abutting rela- The teeth ltlare arranged in' tion with horizontally projecting flanges 23 of the angle side pieces 11. The angle side pieces are secured to the main or seat frame of the chair at opposite sides thereof, as clearly illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing, and the flanges extend inwardly toward each other and lie in the path of the ratchet engaging arms 14. The main or seat frame of the chair is also provided at the rear with recesses 24 forming shoulders for the reception of the hinged back when the same is in a horizontal position.

The back of the chair may be provided with wings 25 and the arm section 3 which is substantially rectangular, constitutes the of the chair when the parts are folded, as clearly illustrated in Figure of the drawing, and the foot of the bed or couch, when section 3 is arranged in the extended position as illustrated in dotted lines of Figure 2 of the drawing. The arm sections 3, which may be constructed in any desired manner, preferably consists of arms or bars supported at the front and back by vertical members 26 and 27 and connected at the front and back by transverse frame members 28. The back, as well as the seat section is designed to be upholstered and the seat will. be equipped with suitable cushioning springs and the bottom of the seat will preferably be covered with canvas or other suitable material for concealing the mechanism so that only the treadle plates will be exposed. Also in practice the seat section may be equipped below the seat with'a suitable space or compartment for holding the bed. The arm section is hinged at the front at 29 to the main section and is adapted to be swung downwardly and forwardly into a horizontal position in advance of the main section and in flush relation with the same, as illustrated in dotted lines and is also adapted to be swung upwardly from such position to a position over the main section, as illustrated in full lines in the drawing.

The hinged arm section is supported in its extended position by foldable legs 31 and 32, each provided near its upper end with a slot 38, for the reception of a pivot screw 35, which pivots the legs to the arm section. The slot 33 permits a limited sliding movement to engage end notches 37 with screws 34 projecting from the arms of the hinged arm section. hen the legs are in position for use, as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawing, the notches are engaged with the screws 34: and when it is desired to fold the legs they are withdrawn from engagement with the screws 34 and swung to the horizontal position in front of the arm section as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. The lower ends of the legs are bent at right angles to form flanges 38 and 40 and the leg 32 has a bent or offset portion 39 to receive the flange 38 to permit the legs to fold flat against each other. The upward swing-of the lower ends of the legs is limited by a projection 41 and the notched ends of the legs are engaged beneath the screws 34 which maintain the legs in their folded position. This will enable the legs to be compactly folded when not in use and will permit the legs to be readily brought into position for supporting the arm section in its extended or unfolded. position. The screws or fastening devices and 35 are arranged in pairs at opposite sides of the outer end of the arm section and are spaced apart vertically while the projection 41 is centrally arranged.

WVhat is claimed is:

A folding chair of the class described comprising a main section, an arm section arranged upon the main section and hinged at its front to the same and adapted to swing outwardly, fastening devices projectpairs whereby the legs are maintained in position for use, an intermediate projection carried by the arm section andlocated between the said pairs of fastening devices and arranged to support the legs when the same are folded, said legs being provided at their lower ends with flanges and one of the legs being provided between its ends with an angular bend offsetting the lower portion of the leg and receiving the flange of the other leg when the legs are folded to permit the said legs to fit flat against each other upon the intermediate projection.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH S. PECKER. 

